Reincarnated as a dragon’s egg ～Lets aim to be the strongest～ - Chapter 567

567 – Unwanted Union

Lilixira’s second [Aparajita] axe attack comes swinging down. I drop the remaining left side of my [Oneiros Flugel], and send it flying towards her with a smack from my tail. Using the recoil, I fly backwards while continuing to recover with [Autoregeneration] and [High Rest].

Her [Aparajita] axe smacks into the left half of the [Oneiros Flugel], sending it hurtling downwards. It was destroyed in mere moments, but it played an important role in interrupting her attack. That’s more than enough value for a greatshield that only cost me a moment to bring out.

Until now, I’ve been thinking of this battle as a contest of who can shave down the other’s MP more effectively. We both have high maximum HP and have ample resistance and recovery skills, so both of us can restore our HP before it hits zero.

However… That last attack that hit me could have depleted all my HP at once. It’s probably the result of a combination of her big swing from an [Aparajita] axe, the boosts from [Chakra Awakening], the attribute compatibility, and the direct hit from the front, but… The fact that I could have had all my HP gone at once had it gone slightly worse isn’t just something I can just ignore.

[Aparajita] can take on any shape, and [Immortal Step] gives her too many options. It’s too optimistic to think that I understand all her attack patterns. I shouldn’t count out the possibility of her using a method I haven’t thought of to bring something with high firepower to bear.

While she’s under the effects of [Chakra Awakening], she’s powerful enough to cut down most of my HP in one blow. I should probably act with that in mind…No matter how much MP it’ll cost, I should constantly keep my HP at maximum.

Lilixira’s body shakes violently. I didn’t deal any damage in the earlier clash, but [Chakra Awakening]’s burden is probably taking its toll. I throw three [Dimension Claws] as I keep my distance and continue to heal.

Lilixira’s figure flickers in and out of existence… After all, is it impossible for me to catch her if I don’t use close combat?

Lilixira reappears, the [Aparajita] greataxe gone from her hand. I look towards the greataxe of light that has suddenly appeared in midair. It’s heading straight for me while spinning chaotically.

She threw the axe at me using [Immortal Step] as cover! At the same time, she’s readying another four [Aprajita] chakrams. Using [Dragon Mirror], I change into a baby dragon form and climb into the air. The [Aparajita] greataxe cleaves through the air right below me.

If Lilixira maintains a medium distance and keeps using [Aparajita] to attack, it’ll be best for me to continue avoiding in this form. Even for her, she should be unable to ignore the burden from [Chakra Awakening]. I’m worried she might use [Immortal Step] to close the distance under cover of her chakrams, but I’ve seen that pattern once already. The next time she uses it, I’ll be able to respond more effectively.

It’s going to be a tough battle even with this choice of action, but jumping directly into the face of that [Chakra Awakened] Lilixira isn’t a wise plan at all. If she doesn’t plan on coming into hand-to-hand combat herself, then I’ll stick to evasion.

Lilixira comes chasing after me as I escape. She isn’t using [Immortal Step]. She’s probably waiting for the optimal timing.

And then… my [Presence Perception] picks up on an approaching presence. It’s coming towards us. Probably a human… Whoever it is, they’re riding on a flying monster.

…Is it Volk and the black lizard? I’d rather not consider it, but there’s a possibility it might be Howgrey.

An interruption is definitely far from desirable at this point. Even if it’s Volk and the others, it’s almost impossible for them to contest with the current Lilixira. Frankly speaking, they’ll end up getting in my way more than they will Lilixira’s.

If that’s Howgrey, then of course there’s no way I can let him link up with Lilixira. I still can’t deal with his strange movement. There’s the option of using my speed to shake him off and stay away from him, but if I do that, Howgrey’s surroundings will become a safe zone for Lilixira.

I’m maintaining distance from her at the moment, but I don’t plan on completely runing away and escaping. It shouldn’t be Lilixira’s desire to let this battle be interrupted, either.

If I look from Lilixira’s point of view, this time she’s gathered forces to oppose me from around the world, and used her own evolution to fight with the aim of cutting down my MP as efficiently as possible. If I’m forced to run away, then the next time she’ll probably have fewer allies than before, and the abuse of [Reincarnation Moult] and [Immortal Step] won’t be as overwhelming now that I’ve fought against them once.

And for myself as well, I can’t imagine Aro and the others being able to keep surviving if battles like this keep occurring. I want to end things with Lilixira as soon as I can.

It’ll become a disadvantage if the person in front of me links up. However… I can’t afford to change my flight path. I glance backwards.

“Fufu… it seems that luck is on my side.”

Lilixira’s torn mouth splits open in a laugh. For her, it doesn’t matter whether they’re an enemy or an ally. If they’re on my side, she’ll attack and I’ll have no choice but to defend them; if they’re her ally, she’ll probably work out how to utilise their fighting strength as is.

If that’s the case, then I’ll have no choice but to link up with them first! I raise my flying speed.

“Do you think that I’ll allow that to happen?”

The space around Lilixira distorts and she closes the distance in one move. She releases the four [Aparajita] chakrams from her hands at the same time.

I’ve gotten used to dealing with those! While being vigilant for a sudden attack from Lilixira with [Immortal Step], I dart around with irregular movements, making myself harder to hit.

Even though their paths are being altered by [Immortal Step], my mind is beginning to catch up with the chakrams. It seems complicated, but there aren’t actually that many patterns they can take. I can understand them. Now, it’s just a matter of how quickly I can react, and how much I can outthink her.

If I’m in this position, I won’t be hit by three of the [Aparajita] chakrams.

A slight smile appears at the corner of Lilixira’s lips. I understand her plan. I haven’t grasped the movements of the fourth chakram, but since it’s clear that my current space is safe, I should probably consider that she’s purposefully herding me here.

『[Ideal Weapon]!』

I call to mind [Ideal Weapon] at my side. As the fourth [Aparajita] chakram comes flying in horizontally, it’s stopped in its tracks by the two wings of the oneiros. The [Oneiros Flugel] falls to the bottom of the cliff, a large indentation carved into it.

Maintaining my current body is troublesome, so I had planned on stopping it. The MP cost is accumulating, but it’s still better than spending the MP to heal my body. I’ll stick to reliably enduring her attacks. Lilixira won’t let any half-hearted attacks hit her, or crude defences hinder her. She would just predict me and easily win. I need to move more cautiously than usual.

Seeing that Lilixira’s [Chakra Awakening] is still in use, I don’t plan on going out of my way to attack her. I’ll stick to defence, and then land a certain hit the moment her patience slips.

As I decided to escape further upwards, my [Presence Perception] informs me that the third party has drawn close. While moving away from Lilixira, I raise my head to check who they are.

The blonde woman with sanpaku eyes raises her sword atop her dragon.

“[Lucent Luna]!”

Ten bullets of light shoot towards me, moments after I barely dodged Lilixira’s chakram. Two of them strike true. Heat bursts along my wings.

In my baby dragon form my defence is greatly decreased, but still, the damage isn’t too much. [Lucent Luna] is a long distance attack skill, and seems to be a technique to keep enemies in check. That’s probably why its damage is so low and it’s unable to pierce the thin wings of a baby dragon.

Why did she come here? Alphiss should know more than anyone that this isn’t a battle she can do something about by charging in by herself.

It might be bad of me to say this, but I’m glad that it’s not Aro and the others, who would have tried to fight Lilixira, or the troublesome Howgrey who would have added to her fighting strength. Lilixira herself seems like she wasn’t expecting Alphiss to show up either, and is glaring at her with furrowed brows.